The weird and wonderful world of Doctor Who...

With the devastating news that we won't be getting any resolution to the latest Doctor Who cliffhanger when Ncuti Gatwa's 'Doctor' seemingly regenerated into the Time Lord's old companion 'Rose Tyler' (played with glee by Billie Piper) I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane and revisit the times I visited the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay, Wales. Whenever I travelled back to see my Welsh family I'd always find the time to check out the latest screen-used costumes, props and set pieces from the iconic BBC show on display at the Doctor Who exhibition and I'd thought that my photos from that time had been lost when my old laptop died and I discovered I hadn't backed up the images. To my surprise (and delight) I was able to power up that laptop the other day and retrieve the missing files, so I thought I'd share an eclectic selection of photos from classic and revival era episodes.

First up is a trio of Doctor costumes and accompanying TARDIS for each from the 50th anniversary Doctor Who special, which saw Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor team up with David Tennant's Tenth Doctor and uncover the secret of John Hurt's 'War Doctor'.

The special also featured the metamorphic Zygon aliens, so make sure you take a closer look at all these costumes and more from The Day of the Doctor.

One of the many cool things that I got to see at this ever-changing Doctor Who Experience were TARDIS interior consoles and set design. This particular retro console was featured for the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors during the Eighties, which was when I grew up watching the sci-fi series.

The exhibition also featured this uncanny Matt Smith waxwork and on this occasion it was dressed in the Doctor's purple Victorian frock coat with fur collar from the 2012 Christmas special, The Snowmen.

The costume beside him is one of Jenna Coleman's 'Clara Oswald' outfits from the show.

Back in the old days the Doctor Who sets and costumes maybe have been a bit wobbly and held together with sticky back plastic, but the villains were always iconic, no more so than 'Davros', the creator of the Daleks. I used to have nightmares about him and the metal killing machines, so be sure to take a look at all these various Generations of the Daleks.

Another formative night terror came in the form of the Cybermen. Alas, poor 'Adric'. The death of the Fourth and Fifth Doctor's Companion really haunted me.

This particular Cyberman and Cyber Conversion Unit are the upgraded versions from the TV revival era, but be sure to also check out other Cybermen designs through the ages. 

The revival era not only brought back classic monsters and aliens like the Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans and more, but they also introduced new and deadly fan-favourite foes like the statue-like Weeping Angels.

Another instantly classic new race of aliens introduced in the new era were the Ood. These scary-looking squid-like aliens share a telepathic hive mind, communicate through an orb-shaped translation device, and were first introduced enslaved by humanity in the 2006 episode, The Impossible Planet.

Another great looking creature introduced in Russell T. Davies revival era was the 'Face of Boe'. This over-sized head with tentacles is an old friend of the Doctor's and in the Last of the Time Lords episode is revealed to be what the immortal 'Captain Jack Harkness' has evolved into in the future.

The reptilian Silurians were also given a makeover in the new era of Doctor Who, like military commander 'Restac' in The Hungry Earth/Cold War two-parter.

The actress under that scaly prosthetic makeup, Neve McIntosh, later went on to play the Victorian-era Silurian lesbian detective, 'Madame Vastra'.

The Doctor and his Companions adventures in time and space also brought him into the path of The Silence in the opening episodes of the sixth season.

These eerie, tall, long-fingered suited aliens with their almost The Scream painting homage faces were a great addition to the Doctor's pantheon of foes.

Christmas specials were also a brilliant strategy for the success of the new era, making the show must-see holiday viewing millions of festive households.

This cryogenic storage chamber and Wood Queen and King props are from 2011's playfully-titled The Doctor, the Widow and The Wardrobe.

Like most classic foes, the Ice Warriors also received an upgraded look for a new generation of viewers.

Be sure to compare this 'Grand Marshal Skaldac' suit from 2013's Cold War episode with Martian Ice Warrior from the 1960s.

And totally letting nostalgia get the best of me here, the Doctor's robotic dog 'K-9' was one of my favourite characters when I was watching when I was younger. I mean what kid wouldn't want a loyal robot dog who fired laser beams?!?

And finally for this collection of photos from my visits in May and December 2013, here's the Third Doctor's canary yellow vintage roadster, 'Bessie', that Jon Pertwee drove when he hung out with UNIT (known at the time as the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce) as their scientific advisor.

I hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane with all these costumes and props. Let's hope we won't have to wait years into the future before we see Doctor Who back on the small screen.

Celebrate PRIDE Month with these LGBTQ costumes from the big and small screen on display...

Visibility and representation matters, and in this day and age when people are trying to eliminate DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), challenge hard-fought rights, brand our content unsafe to watch and eradicate trans people, it matters even more. For this PRIDE Month I thought I'd share some screen-used costumes from LGBTQ movies and television shows that celebrate gay, lesbian and transgender icons and queer stories.

Elton John costumes from Rocketman

First up are these movie costumes from 2019's Elton John biopic, Rocketman, which starred Taron Egerton as the out and proud music legend.

Fans of the British singer, songwriter, pianist and HIV/AIDS activist can also enjoy these other Rocketman film costumes previously temporarily on display the Downtown LA's FIDM Museum.

Billie Jean King film costume

from Battle of the Sexes

Next up is another LGBTQ icon, this time from the world of sports, tennis champ Billie Jean King's costume from the 2017 movie, Battle of the Sexes.

Emma Stone played the lesbian tennis legend and trailblazer in this retelling of the 1973 tennis match between her and male ex-champ Bobby Riggs.

You can also check out more sporty costumes from Battle of the Sexes previously on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema and the FIDM Museum.

Carol film costume exhibit

For more lesbian fare, here's a cool costume exhibit at the ArcLight Hollywood for the 2015 historical romantic drama, Carol, which starred Cate Blanchett as the titular character and Rooney Mara as her lover, based on Patricia Highsmith's 1952 novel, The Price of Salt.

Be sure to get a closer look at these Carol film costumes designed by Sandy Powell on display.

Milk movie costume exhibit

Having just celebrated Harvey Milk Day on May 22, I'd be remiss not to share these screen-worn costumes from the 2008 biopic, Milk, the story of the murdered proud activist and first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

This important and symbolic victory for the LGBT community was marred by his assassination, but his legacy and inspiration lives on.

The acclaimed film won two Oscars, Best Actor for Sean Penn for his portrayal as the gay pioneer and the other of gay writer Dustin Lance Black for Best Original Screenplay.

Be sure to check out more Milk movie costumes and props on display, in addition to these on display at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Phastos film costume from Eternals

In 2021 Brian Tyree Henry played the MCU's first openly gay superhero as 'Phastos' in Marvel Studios Eternals movie.

Not only did the genius wield the cosmic powers of technopathy and invention, but he was shown in a committed gay relationship raising a child together.

Be sure to check out more screen-worn costumes from Eternals on display at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre.

King Valkyrie film costume

from Thor: Love and Thunder

Even though Phastos was depicted as openly gay on the big screen, Tessa Thompson's bisexual 'Valkyrie' actually made her debut in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, reprising her powerful role in subsequent Avengers and Thor movies.

If you're a fan of the MCU character make sure you check out her other Valkyrie film costumes on display.

The Danish Girl movie costume exhibit

I know that some people criticize early LGBT films and TV shows for not casting transgender actors in trans roles, but it's true to say such films as 2015's The Danish Girl paved the way for more authentic casting on the big and small screen (and helped inform my education, exploration and understanding of the trans community).

Eddie Redmayne was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal as 'Lili Elbe', one of the first transgender women to undergo sex reassignment surgery in the 1920s.

You can also check to more costumes designed by Paco Delgado for The Danish Girl on display.

Transparent TV costume exhibit

Amazon Prime's critically-acclaimed Transparent, although flawed, also brought the trans experience into the mainstream when it started in February 2014.

The comedy-drama starred Jeffrey Tambor (a cisgender man later to be accused of sexual harassment on set) as a trans woman called 'Maura' and revolved around the self-absorbed Los Angeles family, the 'Pfeffermans', and their reactions and lives after learning the truth about their parent and husband.

These screen-used costumes from the TV series were Emmy-nominated for the sophomore season of Transparent.

Pose TV costume exhibit

Another trailblazing television show that enjoyed great cultural success and acclaim was FX's 1980s New York City queer ball culture drama, Pose.

The ball culture scene with its 'Houses' and 'House Mothers' boasted the most transgender and gay cast members on a primetime drama (including Dominque Jackson, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Indya Moore,  Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross and Billy Porter), plus a diverse writing, production and directing staff behind the scenes.

Pose's costumes were also Emmy-nominated for its debut season, so be sure to enjoy more of them on display at the FIDM Museum in 2019.

RuPaul's Drag Race TV costumes

And finally for this collection of LGBT wardrobes, how could I not shine a light on undoubtably the most famous drag queen of all time, RuPaul.

RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on LGBT cable channel Logo in February 2009 and has since spawned eighteen seasons of the reality competition series, plus an All Stars format and other country spin-offs, helping to make drag a part of mainstream culture and propel many Drag Race contestants to global superstardom, including Trixie Mattel, Jinkx Monsoon, Diana Del Rio, Bob the Drag Queen, Alyssa Edwards and many, many more.

This trio of main stage judging gowns were worn by RuPaul and were captured on display at the Drag Race Hollywood pop-up store in 2017.

Fans of Mama Ru and the iconic show can also check out more RuPaul's Drag Race gowns on display in West Hollywood storefront windows and at the FIDM Museum.

This PRIDE season be sure to be safe, loud and proud. Make sure you support political candidates that champion LGBTQ equality and rights, and stop buying from companies and brands and visiting countries that throw our community under the bus to curry favour from fascist regimes.

HAPPY PRIDE!